The story revolves around Joel March, a high school football player who finds himself grappling with the evolving strategies and rules of football as it transitions into a more modernized sport. Set during a time when football was undergoing significant changes, including the introduction of new formations and rules meant to reduce the violence and injuries that had plagued the game, the novel focuses on how Joel and his teammates adapt to these changes.Joel must not only learn the technical aspects of these "new signals" or plays but also take on a leadership role within his team. He faces the challenges of balancing his own ambitions with the needs of the team, dealing with rivalries, and overcoming the personal doubts that arise as the nature of the game shifts around him.